`DANCER, TEXAS' SPEAKS TO LONGING FOR SOMETHING BETTER.Byline: Robert Philpot Fort Worth Star-Telegram The Fort Worth Star-Telegram is a major U.S. daily newspaper serving Fort Worth and the western half of the North Texas area known as the Metroplex. Its area of domination is checked by its main rival, The Dallas Morning News Director Tim McCanlies calls ``Dancer, Texas Pop. 81'' his love poem to the Lone Star Lone Star (or Lonestar) may refer to:
intr.v. con·de·scend·ed, con·de·scend·ing, con·de·scends 1. To descend to the level of one considered inferior; lower oneself. See Synonyms at stoop1. 2. to its small-town characters and doesn't betray an ounce of self-consciousness, even though it's by a first-time director. The movie grabs you immediately with its stunning cinematography cinematography: see motion picture photography. cinematography Art and technology of motion-picture photography. It involves the composition of a scene, lighting of the set and actors, choice of cameras, camera angle, and integration of special . McCanlies and cinematographer Andrew Dintenfass shoot with an eye toward the wide-open spaces, being careful to capture the varied terrain of the rugged Davis Mountains Davis Mountains, W Tex., SE of El Paso. Old Baldy, 8,382 ft (2,555 m), is the highest peak. Forested slopes, springs, and deep canyons attract tourists. On the summit of Mt. Locke, 6,791 ft (2,070 m) high, is the Univ. of Texas McDonald Observatory (est. . Unlike so many movies that concentrate on beautiful landscapes, though, this one also remembers the sky. Sure, it's easy to capture West Texas' mind-blowing sunrises and sunsets, but McCanlies is equally aware of the beauty of clouds, the Clouds, The attacks Socrates and his philosophy. [Gk. Drama: Haydn & Fuller, 144] See : Satire awe-inspiring sight of the Milky Way Milky Way, the galaxy of which the sun and solar system are a part, seen as a broad band of light arching across the night sky from horizon to horizon; if not blocked by the horizon, it would be seen as a circle around the entire sky. in the night sky, and the eeriness of the mountain desert underneath a full moon. Movies this visually beautiful often overwhelm their stories, but McCanlies' script transcends this with a sweet nature and funny, perceptive dialogue. It's high-school graduation day in Dancer, a lonely town not even on the Rand McNally map, and four-fifths of the five-person senior class are trying to decide whether to keep a pact. When they were 12, the four guys decided that they would leave for Los Angeles right after high school; now, they're not so sure. Keller (Breckin Meyer), the most restless one, still wants to leave but is unsure whether he can make it without his friends' support. He has fewer ties to the town: His parents are dead and he lives with his grandfather, who does little but drink tea and swat flies. Keller's best friend Terrell Lee (Peter Facinelli, who resembles a young Tom Cruise) is torn between friendship and family, as his ambitious mother reminds him that he has an obligation to keep the family oil business alive. Rancher's son John (Eddie Mills) feels a similar obligation, and Squirrel (Ethan Embry), the nerd of the group, isn't too happy with his life in Dancer but doubts that it would be better elsewhere. The coming-of-age story is nothing new, but McCanlies enhances it with unusual depths and layers. It's rare to see a story about a group of teen-age friends that pays this much attention to their families, and McCanlies gives his supporting characters plenty to say. Keller's grandfather (Wayne Tippit, who steals all his scenes) tells it like it is; John's little sister (Ashley Johnson) lets him know that he'll be missed. A woman whom Squirrel's father brings home helps the youth realize that things aren't as bad as they look. And in the movie's best scene, Terrell Lee's taciturn tac·i·turn adj. Habitually untalkative. See Synonyms at silent. [French taciturne, from Old French, from Latin taciturnus, from tacitus, silent; see tacit. father (Michael O'Neill) lets his son know that things are worse than they look. This sounds pretty serious, but McCanlies writes with a light hand and an unerring un·err·ing adj. Committing no mistakes; consistently accurate. un·err  ing·ly adv. ear for honesty among his characters. He also has quite a memory for small-town life, from the geezers at the general store to the covered-dish-making widows; from the bullet-riddled city-limits signs to the Sunday morning church services where a fit of the giggles is the best and worst thing that can happen. Because of the bucolic atmosphere and deeply felt Texana, the filmmakers are a bit concerned that ``Dancer'' might not play outside Texas. It's a real sleeper, though, and anyone who has ever lived in a small town or even dreamed of a better life can relate. TriStar showed its belief in picking up this beautifully done $2.5 million film. The studio should be commended for taking the risk, and McCanlies should be applauded for creating a charming work that never rings a false note. THE FACTS The film: ``Dancer, Texas Pop. 81'' (PG; strong language, some sexual innuendo innuendo n. from Latin innuere, "to nod toward." In law it means "an indirect hint." "Innuendo" is used in lawsuits for defamation (libel or slander), usually to show that the party suing was the person about whom the nasty statements were made or why the comments ). The stars: Breckin Meyer, Peter Facinelli, Ethan Embry, Eddie Mills. Behind the scenes: Written and directed by Tim McCanlies. Released by TriStar Pictures. Running time: One hour, 35 minutes. Playing: AMC (Advanced Mezzanine Card) See AdvancedTCA. Century 14 in Century City. Our rating: Three and One Half Stars. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Breckin Meyer, left, Ethan Embry, Peter Facinelli and Eddie Mills are four buddies who make a pact to leave town after graduation in ``Dancer, Texas Pop. 81.'' |
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